The Saber and Scroll
under General Rochambeau arrived . The French had spent the winter near the Yorktown battlefield in Virginia , but with the approach of spring , it was time for them to move . The French Army was leaving the United States and intended to pass through New York to Boston and depart from there for the West Indies . There was a grand ceremony at the Newburgh encampment where troops from both armies passed in review . Rochambeau and Washington reviewed each other ’ s armies and then bade one another farewell . Once the French Army was gone , the Americans would be very much on their own .
During this time , General Washington received an extraordinary letter from Colonel Lewis Nicola , commander of the “ Corps of Invalids .” These were men who had been injured in combat , suffered from disease or infirmity , and were deemed unfit to serve in combat . They were perfectly able to perform guard duty and support services , however . Colonel Nicola had seen firsthand every day the cost of war in the faces and disabilities of his men . His Corps had not been paid , either . Nicola wrote to General Washington :
When this war is over . We who have born the heat and labor of the day will be forgot and neglected . The army will not submit to this grave in justice . From several conversations I ' ve had with officers I believe it is generally intended , not to separate after the peace to all grievances redressed , engagements & promises fulfilled .... This war must have shown to all , but to military men , in particular , the weakness of Republics . 4
Usually , when he received a communication from one of his subordinates during the war , he would surely reply , but the reply came within a few days or perhaps longer . Washington was so stunned by the letter that he replied to Nicola the very same day his letter was received . Washington wrote to the colonel :
With a mixture of great surprise & astonishment , I have read with attention the Sentiments you have submitted to my perusal . Be assured , Sir , no occurrence in the course of the War , has given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the Army as you have expressed ... no man possesses a more sincere wish to see ample Justice done to the Army than I do , and as far as my powers & influence , in a constitutional way extend , they shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it . 5
Colonel Nicola quickly tried to recant , and there were several more letters sent to the general apologizing for his statements . Nevertheless , Colonel Nicola ’ s letter reflected the feelings of many officers serving in the army . About two weeks after Colonel Nicola ’ s first letter , General Washington received another communication from Major General James Mitchell Varnum . He was from Rhode Island and served in Congress after retiring from the Continental Army . He was an indi-
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